HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 AUTH SVCS FOR ADMIN CITATION HEARING OFFICER 04-21-09Agenda Item 7
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Reviewed:
AGENDA REPORT City Manager
Finance Director NIA
MEETING DATE: APRIL 21, 2009
TO: TUSTIN CITY COUNCIL
FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO CONTRACT FOR SERVICES FOR (A) COLLECTION
AND PROCESSING OF ADMINISTRATIVE CITATIONS; AND (B) HEARING
OFFICER SERVICES
SUMMARY
Ordinance No. 1358 was adopted on November 04, 2008, to amend Tustin City Code
Section 1112, relating to code enforcement and administrative citations. The Ordinance
created a means to ensure compliance with the Tustin City Code in a timely and
efficient manner thereby improving the quality of life, maintaining property values, and
reducing the burden on the judicial system while providing for due process for those
cited.
On February 3, 2009, the Council gave authorization to advertise for proposals for
collection and processing services of the administrative citation and professional
services for hearing officers.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council authorize and direct the Community Development Director to enter
into contract for professional services to provide:
a) Collections and processing services of administrative citations
b) Hearing Officer services for administrative citation appeals
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs associated with the processing services and appeal hearings are expected to be
offset by: (1) reductions in enforcement and litigation costs and (2) revenue in fines
collected from the establishment of the administrative citation program.
City Council Report
Administrative Citation Processing
Page 2
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The administrative citation process is a procedure that allows the City to take specific
enforcement actions when necessary to resolve particular violations of the Tustin City
Code. If violations of the City's Code are committed, authorized staff, including police
and code enforcement officers, may issue administrative citations. Administrative
citations may be issued independent of, or in addition to, all other legal remedies, civil or
criminal, which may be pursued to address a violation of the Tustin City Code. The use
of this process is at the City's discretion. Generally, this process would be used in
egregious cases or when there are repeated or continuing violations that need be
corrected and deterred.
Staff is requesting authorization to enter into contract for professional services to
perform the following:
a) Collections and processing services of administrative citations
b) Hearing Officer services for administrative citation appeals
a) Proposal for Collections and Processing Services of Administrative Citations
Staff requested proposals for out-sourcing the management and processing of
administrative citations given the limited resources and the time consuming effort that
would be needed to process and collect citations and citation appeals. Out-sourcing
this process will eliminate labor intensive paperwork and allow code enforcement
officers to concentrate on the primary role of inspections.
Representatives from the Community Development Department and the Finance
Department interviewed two companies that provide the requested services: (1) Data
Ticket, Inc. dba Revenue Experts and (2) Turbo Data Systems, Inc. The most qualified
company will be chosen to provide services for processing of administrative citations
which will include: revenue collection, citation processing, data entry and citation
tracking, live customer service inquiry, notification of hearing decisions, monthly
reporting, delinquent payment collections, and on-line payments for fines.
b) Pro osal for Hearin Officer Services for Administrative Citation A eals
Representatives from the Community Development Department and the City Attorney's
office interviewed nine attorneys applying to serve as hearing officers. Staff is
proposing that only qualified hearing officers will be placed on the approved list and may
be utilized as part of the administrative citation hearing procedures as set forth in the
ordinance. However, at this time contracts would only be negotiated with the top three
candidates on the list, including: Gregory P. Palmer, C. Thomas Drosman, and Thomas
W. Allen.
~~Elizabeth insack
Community Development Director
S:\Cdd\CCREPORT1Admin Citation RFP.doc